Cushioned pencil point



Nov. 15, 1949 Y J. A. ENGEL, JR. 7 2,488,179

CUSHIONED PENCIL POINT Filed May 28, 1946 4 m 3 l I6 i F FIEZ, j llnfiminr Jay/v Hf/VQELJTQ.

Patented Nov. 15, 1949 2,488,179 CUSHIONED PENCIL POINT John A. Engcl, Jr., Baltimore, Md.

ssssur AUG 22 1950 I i Application May 28, 1946, Serial No. 672,799

1 Claim. (01. 120-9) This invention relates to writing equipment and more particularly to those of the loading or fountain pen or pencil type.

In the conventional types of fountain pencil, the filler lead is held so rigidly that an abnormal pressure on the point being used in writing causes it to break and interrupt its use. Thus a person having a heavy manner of writing will continuously break the leads, and incidently become so mentally disturbed as to make errors, causing loss of time; increasing the cost of writing; and probably damaging the writing paper and the composition to be included in the writing. Likewise in fountain pens, a heavy pressure in writing is apt to seriously injure them.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved form of loading or fountain pencil or pen that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved form of loading a fountain pencil or pen that will have a structure resilient enough to enable its user to write at normal pressures, and at abnormal pressures to anticipate the tendency to increase the stresses on the lead or pen point by distributing the force on to the resilient portion of the structure sufficiently to relieve the lead or pen from a load adequate to break it but not enough to prevent it from writing at the instant.

For a clearer understanding of the invention and other objects thereof reference is made to the appended drawings and the following description wherein a particular form of the invention is outlined by way of example, while the scope and spirit of the invention is emphasized in the claim.

In the construction shown in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a fountain pencil embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In this particular structure, a loading pencil is indicated having a hollow cylindical barrel ll] of conventional contour through which a filler pencil lead H, in a feeding tube 12, can pass freely and adjust itself to slight variations in lateral displacement. The feeding tube I2 has a conventional muzzle l3 which holds the projecting point portion of the lead II in a rigid and adjustable manner. A helical spring 14 of tapered form suspends the tube and muzzle through barrel I under tension at the writing end of the pencil structure, or writing implement or element. This coiled spring I 4 allows a lateral swing and compressive reciprocation in the movement of the tube and muzzle. The lead ll being held inside this tube and muzzle moves with them. The spring is preferably held to the barrel in a slot l5 effectively and at the same time provides an aesthetic appearance. The tapering of the spring is directed towards the point and rests against the muzzle where it is held. The tube I2 is somewhat similarly suspended at the butt end of the pencil by another tapered extensible helical spring I! held to the barrel in a slot l8 at one end, and against lead feeder propellin cap !9 combined and mounted in a conventional way on the feeding tube !2. The cap is suitably arranged to hold the outer end portion of the spring IT. This spring is attached to the barrel [6 at 20 and permits lateral and reciprocating positioning of the tube and cap l 9 thereon. An eraser 2| may be included in the cap I9.

The pencil is held by the hand of the user in the usual manner, with the pencil point impressed under pressure on the paper to be written on. The pressure varies as the pencil point is moved in various directions. An increase in pressure resiliently compresses the spring M and allows the tube 12 to move rearwardly in the barrel [0. The spring I? at the same time is resilientl extended by the tube and the cap I9 fastened thereto. The interior passage 22 inside the barrel being appreciably larger in diameter than the tube l2, permits an angular displacement in respect to the axis, so that the pressure in a lateral direction on the pencil point is resiliently compensated for and the greater stress exerted thereon absorbed by the springs.

Since the tendency of manufacturers has been to provide a thin pencil lead in recent years for use in these types of pencils, the provision of a structure facilitating the absorption of any abnormal force produced by the hand of the user, to present a breaking stress, is highly valuable and important. This invention provides for this and at the same time avoids the use or a complicated or expensive construction, or one that involves weight that is abnormal. At the same time, the pencil may be operated in a conventional manner.

Likewise a pen structure could be used in place of a filler lead and the suspension of the Writing implement made similarly at the end of the barrel and given ample space within the barrel to move about in. The pen structure would sustain the stresses incurred by writing on the pen, in the same respect as the pencil hereinbefore de- 3 scribed. The result would .be similarly effective in protecting the pen nib.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be a new and improved embodiment of this invention, it will be noted that various changes and modifications may be made thereon without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claim.

I claim:

A pencil comprising a. sleeve having a central longitudinal passage therethrough, a lead holding tube terminating in a muzzle at one end through which the lead extends and in a cap at the opposite end, said tube extending within the passage in the sleeve and bein spaced'ifrom said passage all along its length, said tube also protruding at both ends beyond the terminal confines of said sleeve, and a pain-of springs mounted co-axially about each of the portions of said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

STA'I'ES'FAIENTS Number I Name Date 1,495,287 Wilson May 2'7, 1924 2,362,5 8? Pearson Nov. 14, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Germany Oct. 2, 1939 

